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Virtual Reality (VR) provides the possibility to study pedestrian wayfinding behaviour in multi-level buildings. Although VR has been applied increasingly to study pedestrian behaviour, it has remained unclear how different VR technology would affect behavioural outcomes in a multi-level building. The study compares the adoption of different VR technologies for pedestrian wayfinding studies, via investigating the difference in pedestrian wayfinding behaviour and user experience. Wayfinding experiments with two groups of participants were conducted using either HMD VR or Desktop VR. Pedestrian movement trajectory data were collected via the VR system and user experience data were recorded via a questionnaire. These data allow for direct comparison and detailed analysis of pedestrian behaviour and user experience between the adoption of two VR technologies. The results showed that technological differences have a significant impact on wayfinding task performance and head rotation change. However, the route choice, exit choice and user experience were overall similar between the two groups. These results provide empirical evidence supporting researchers to choose between immersive and non-immersive VR when study pedestrian wayfinding behaviour., Transport and Planning, Transport and Planning

Virtual Reality (VR) is a valuable tool for studying pedestrian behaviour in complex and realistic scenarios. However, it has remained unknown how different VR technology would influence pedestrian behaviour. This paper presents VR experiments that were conducted with 70 participants using a desktop VR or a HMD VR to perform four different wayfinding tasks in a multi-story building. Quantitative analysis of pedestrian behaviour data and user experience data were performed in order to investigate the impact of the technological differences between the two VR techniques. It was found that participants had better wayfinding task performance in the desktop group. However, the route and exit choice and user experience were overall similar between the two groups. The findings suggest that one could adopt more ‘simple’ VR technologies for studies featuring ‘simple’ wayfinding tasks., Accepted Author Manuscript, Transport and Planning

Full Text, Thesis (PhD Doctorate), Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), School of Environment and Sc, Science, Environment, Engineering and Technology, Wayfinding is a cognitive activity that is embedded in a complex social and spatial environment. People use their cognitive ability to gather spatial information from their surrounding environment while navigating and finding their way through space. Lynch (1960) argued that there is a relationship between physical perceivable urban elements and urban legibility, and that a strong legible city would help form a strong mental image of the city. In turn, a very imageable city would facilitate urban orientation and wayfinding performance. However, in addition to spatial information other external information like navigational aids and social environment could assist navigators to reach their desired destinations easier. With the ubiquity of “wayshowing” tools such as paper maps, digital maps, smart phone navigators, and local signage, pedestrians are able to locate themselves in an unfamiliar environment and find their desired destinations. Each of these tools provides specific spatial information in particular ways, with a range of limitations in their use. The way visitors to a new city wayfind in the digital era and their social and spatial interaction with their surrounding environment has been given less research attention than might be expected. In addition, physical urban elements are not the only characteristics that shape urban form. Spatial configuration of urban layout and land use are other influential factors that influence people’s route choice behaviour. This study aims to explore: a) the effects of different wayfinding tools, such as paper maps, GPS and non-mapping on an individual’s spatial cognition; b) the effects of urban form and navigational aids on people’s wayfinding performance; c) the effects of urban form and navigational tools on navigators’ social and spatial interaction with space; and, d) how people make sense of an unfamiliar urban environment and find their ways within it while using different types of navigational aids. 38 participants

Wayfinding is a cognitive activity that is embedded in a complex social and spatial environment. People use their cognitive ability to gather spatial information from their surrounding environment while navigating and finding their way through space. Lynch (1960) argued that there is a relationship between physical perceivable urban elements and urban legibility, and that a strong legible city would help form a strong mental image of the city. In turn, a very imageable city would facilitate urban orientation and wayfinding performance. However, in addition to spatial information other external information like navigational aids and social environment could assist navigators to reach their desired destinations easier. With the ubiquity of “wayshowing” tools such as paper maps, digital maps, smart phone navigators, and local signage, pedestrians are able to locate themselves in an unfamiliar environment and find their desired destinations. Each of these tools provides specific spatial information in particular ways, with a range of limitations in their use. The way visitors to a new city wayfind in the digital era and their social and spatial interaction with their surrounding environment has been given less research attention than might be expected. In addition, physical urban elements are not the only characteristics that shape urban form. Spatial configuration of urban layout and land use are other influential factors that influence people’s route choice behaviour. This study aims to explore: a) the effects of different wayfinding tools, such as paper maps, GPS and non-mapping on an individual’s spatial cognition; b) the effects of urban form and navigational aids on people’s wayfinding performance; c) the effects of urban form and navigational tools on navigators’ social and spatial interaction with space; and, d) how people make sense of an unfamiliar urban environment and find their ways within it while using different types of navigational aids. 38 participants, Thesis (PhD Doctorate), Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), School of Environment and Sc, Science, Environment, Engineering and Technology, Full Text